On War Powers Deadline Day, Trump Writes Congress Again: Iran Hostilities Have 'Terminated'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson on November 13, the day a 60-day War Powers deadline expired, restating that U.S. hostilities against Iran have terminated and that the White House does not need congressional approval to maintain its military presence in the region. A day earlier, the Senate once again rejected a war powers resolution that would have required an end to military action against Iran.
In the letter, Trump wrote that he ordered a ceasefire on April 7 and that it has since been extended; that there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since April 7; and that "the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated." The White House's legal position is that because hostilities have ended, the 60-day clock no longer applies and the president does not need to seek authorization to keep forces deployed. The letter does not end the naval blockade of Iranian ports, which remains in force.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth repeated the same position in Senate testimony on November 12, saying the April 7 ceasefire means the 60-day clock "pauses or stops." Democrats and legal experts have challenged that reading, arguing that the text of the War Powers Resolution does not allow the clock to be paused.
In Congress, the Senate rejected the Iran war powers resolution on November 12 by a vote of 47 to 50, the sixth time the chamber has turned back such a measure. On the day the 60-day deadline expired, lawmakers had left Washington and Congress took no action. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president who commits U.S. forces to hostilities without congressional authorization must obtain that authorization or end the action within 60 days, with a further 30 days allowed for a safe withdrawal.
It was Trump's second letter to Congress on the same question in a week: his November 6 letter had already stated that the hostilities had terminated.
(Source: The White House)
Related:
Trump Tells Congress Hostilities With Iran Have 'Terminated,' Arguing No Approval Is Needed
Source: The White House
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